Sailboat Show: 39th Annual United States Sailboat Show

More than 250 boats in the water, 200 boats on land and hundreds of exhibitors displaying everything from redesigned classic sailboats and sailing dinghies to binoculars and shoes, will transform City Dock and harbor into a city within a city through Monday.

 

The show is the largest in-the-water show of exclusively new boats in the world, said Bonnie Seidelmann, spokeswoman for United States Yacht Shows Inc., the show’s producers. She said she expects at least 50,000 people to attend the event, which opened to the public today.

A classic redesigned

For more than four decades, Dave Cherubini’s family has designed and built boats. So when the opportunity arose for him to preserve his family’s legacy by redesigning and building a new Cherubini 44, he jumped at the chance.

Mr. Cherubini’s uncle, John, designed the original Cherubini 44, known for its detail and performance in the wind.

“Every single (Cherubini) boat ever built is still sailing,” Mr. Cherubini said, adding many of the Cherubini 44s sell for more now than when built 25 years ago.

But it’s been 18 years since anyone has actually built one. Mr. Cherubini, who became president of New Jersey-based Cherubini Yachts in 2004, said it was time.

To remain competitive, he had to knock down man hours required to build the boat from 10,000 to 8,000. It now takes four men 2,000 hours each to build one boat.

Mr. Cherubini also changed the deck materials. The original was a wooden boat inside a fiberglass shell. This time around, the deck is made of fiberglass. The hull is solid fiberglass with 100 percent vinyl ester resin. “The boat is stiff, very rigid,” he said. “In a big storm, you’re safe in a boat like this.”

The interior features more usable space than the original, and owners have immediate access to all the mechanical systems, including the tanks. The new boat is more environmentally friendly, as well. All gray water and waste go into tanks before leaving the boat so neither is accidentally discharged. Still, the boat is not for sitting around the marina. The Cherubini 44 is for the more serious sailor, Mr. Cherubini said.

The new boat sells for around $900,000 and will premiere this weekend. It’s one of at least five scheduled for worldwide or U.S. premieres.

Another yacht in a class by itself is the Island Packet 460, another new boat at the show. This world cruiser is capable of long-distance voyages offshore, and also is ideal as a live aboard or for exploring coastal waters.

Other new boats at the show include the Melges 20, the Santa Cruz SC 37, the Tartan 5300 and X-Yacht’s X-34.

Dual-purpose boats

A year ago almost to the day, Ken and Jennifer Comerford started Annapolis-based North Point Yachts Sales. While the business may be new, their passion for sailing is not.

“We live and breathe sailing and boating on the Chesapeake Bay,” Mr. Comerford said.

Despite the change in the economy, people’s love for boating has remained consistent, he said.

“The boats that are selling now are clean, well-priced boats in good locations,” he said. “Annapolis is a great market to be in to sell a boat.”

During the show, North Point Yacht Sales will feature a line of J Boats: the J80, J100, J105, J109 and J122.

“Right now, there’s a lot of folks who want dual-purpose boats because there’s more value to them,” Mr. Comerford said.

The J122 is a cruiser-racer that meets the demand. The 40-foot performance boat offers a completely furnished interior for entertaining. Buyers choose from two interior plans: a three cabin, forward-head layout or the more traditional two cabin, two head cruising layout. Both are finished in varnished light mahogany. As for racing, the J122 is winning in both Europe and the United States. Recent victories include class trophies at the American Spring Regatta, the Greenwich Cup Regatta and the Cowes to Deauville Race in England.

Time to browse

Whether you’re a racers or a cruisers, take time to browse the tents at the show. Some 250 tents of all sizes will house the latest in just about everything a boater needs, on the water or on shore.

You’ll find the hottest boat shoes, the latest foul-weather gear, electronics, engines and other hardware, all sorts of software and more.

New gear this year includes Standard Horizon’s floating marine handheld VHF with GPS, Synergy Marine’s docklines with integrated shock absorbers, and Starboard Sun’s Superwind 350 turbine.

In the market for a vacation on sea or land? The show is a good place to check out resort offerings in the Caribbean and various cruise options. Albatross Charters, for example, is introducing their Sunreef Cat charters in Greece, with sailings available in 2009.

Boat Show Bash

If you don’t get your fill of boats during the show, the Eastport Yacht Club is back to throw its annual Boat Show Bash tomorrow night.

The party on the grounds of the yacht club begins at 6 p.m. and features a raffle with $8,000 in prizes, live music, hot sandwiches and sides, drinks and dancing.

“It was a tremendous success last year,” said Susan Nahmias, chairman of the EYC special events committee. “This is let your hair down, block party fun.”

Annapolis’s Tiki Barbarians and the Eastern Shore’s Sunny Isle Blues Band will perform on the back lot. For those tired boaters who are looking for a quieter scene, Emmy award winning composer, singer and keyboardist Brian Comotto of Baltimore will perform on the front side of the property.

The EYC Foundation also is sponsoring an online live auction with 18 bidding items retailing for a total of $25,000. The auction begins at 9 p.m. on the EYC front porch. For those unable to attend but willing to bid, EYC will assign a volunteer proxy bidder.

Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Proceeds benefit the National Sailing Hall of Fame’s education program and the EYC Foundation.

For more information, visit www.eycbash.com or call 410-263-0415. ——— Allison Eatough is a former reporter for The Capital who lives in Ellicott City.